Red Tarns Track
Aoraki/Mount / Mt Cook Village
Your Nature Guide
Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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Track Highlights
Photos
Information
Red Tarns Track
2.3 km return | 2 hours return
Less frequented than the Sealy Tarns Track, this rise of 400 vertical metres gives a real treat on a good day. The big peaks reflect off the still lake waters during early morning calm.
Walking Track
Timing
Best in the morning or late evening.
Access
The start of the track is signposted from the public shelter on Bowen Drive.
Track
Follow the sealed walkway and cross over Black Birch Stream via the bridge. The track now climbs steadily with steps and occasional rocky sections. A stand of original podocarp beech forest is nestled next to a strategic bench.
Views of the Sefton Range and Mount Cook open up steadily behind you as you reach Red Tarns. There’s an orientation dial and information board, before a boarded walkway does a lap of the small tarns, which glow red in the summer months due to the presence of an algae.
The track continues up the scree to reach the summit of Mount Sebastopol.
Flora
By the first bench is the last remnant of the podocarp- beech forest which once grew all over the area. Farmers set fire to the area in huge conflagrations, attempting to create seed bed for European grasses. The practice stopped in 1953, when the National Park was created.
A red pondweed Potamogeton cheesmanii blooms in the summer when water temperatures are warmer.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC CanterburyCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Mount Cook |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
Quite a tough climb but amazing views along the way and a beautiful plateau at the top.
We went in winter and there was a fresh layer of snow and the ponds were frozen. Really lovely.
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5.0/5
A beautiful winter walk.
2 hours round trip. Lots of steps. Steady climb up on a well-maintained track. Need to be medium fitness. Spectacular views all the way up.
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4.0/5
After climbing a lot of steps, the view is beautiful.
You can see the Red Tarns who are hidden behind the view and you can rest eating your picnic.
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5.0/5
Amazing view over Mt Cook.
It gets pretty steep, but you get rewarded! Not crowded!
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5.0/5
About two hours, it is steep but worth it.
Good little workout with fantastic views from above and to Mt Cook, not crowded! Mid October.
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5.0/5
Awesome walk - very steep and lots of steps but the views are very rewarding.
Especially getting reflections in the tarns towards Mt Cook and Mt Sefton. 2 hour return.
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5.0/5
A big walk up over 1200 stairs but with breathtaking views over the Mt Cook area.
Be prepared for a lot of stairs!
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3.5/5
Tough going stepped walk.
2 hour return, views good but don't really change on the way up. Do if you have time but don't sacrifice Hooker Valley.
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5.0/5
Very very......strenuous - but on the op idyllic, picturesque views.
Marvellous! Our favourite!!
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5.0/5
Great views, lots of steps.
Mt Cok, Mt sefton and Footstool set out in front of you 2hr return.
